Home Discord Chat
Go Back   ChiefsPlanet > Nzoner's Game Room > Media Center
Register FAQDonate Members List Calendar

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-20-2012, 07:05 PM  
Buck Buck is offline
Take a Chill Pill
 
Buck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: South Carolina
Casino cash: $7187900
Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Only Thread

There is a great thread in the lounge about Books in general, but to be honest, all I really want to read is Sci-Fi (including post-apocalyptic), and Fantasy.

In this OP I will compile every poster's top 3 Fantasy/SciFi suggestions if they give me them. I will try to keep the posters in alphabetical order in case you want to find someone's suggestions easier.

CP POSTER SUGGESTIONS

Baby Lee
1. Fritz Lieber's Swords Against series.
2. George R.R. Martin's SoIaF series [no brainer that will probably make tons of other lists]
3. Umberto Eco, Foucalt's Pendulum [a little more obscure/forgotten to make up for GRRM]

Frosty
1.Raymond Feist - Riftwar Saga
2.Terry Brooks - Shannara series (starting with the Knight of the Word books)
3.Tad Williams - Memory, Sorrow and Thorn

Huffmeister
(1) Dune - Frank Herbert
(2) The Stand - Stephen King (1000+ page unabridged)
(3) Starship Troopers - Robert A. Heinlein (checkout the song by Yes, too. lots of great bass)

Jawshco
1. "Book of the Long Sun" by Gene Wolfe
2. "Paradise War" by Stephen R Lawhead
3. "The Dragonbone Chair" by Tad Williams

listopencil
1. Edgar Rice Burroughs, any series
2. Robert Heinlein, everything he has written in chronological order (but read Starship Troopers first)
3. Doc Smith's Lensman series

vailpass
1. The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume 1, 2A & 2B books are a gold mine for sampling the evolution of sci-fi. (below)
2.The Nebula Awards and Hugo Awards (selected yearly, pick a year)
3. Years Best SF Annual publication, pick any volume from 1 to the current volume 17
See Post 142

Last edited by Buck; 03-25-2012 at 12:56 PM..
Posts: 44,580
Buck is obviously part of the inner Circle.Buck is obviously part of the inner Circle.Buck is obviously part of the inner Circle.Buck is obviously part of the inner Circle.Buck is obviously part of the inner Circle.Buck is obviously part of the inner Circle.Buck is obviously part of the inner Circle.Buck is obviously part of the inner Circle.Buck is obviously part of the inner Circle.Buck is obviously part of the inner Circle.Buck is obviously part of the inner Circle.
    Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2019, 12:16 PM   #691
duncan_idaho duncan_idaho is offline
M-I-Z-Z-O-U
 
duncan_idaho's Avatar
 

Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Kansas City
Casino cash: $-629692
Quote:
Originally Posted by vailpass View Post
Finished the Malazan series. The second half of book 10 really picked up in pace and was an enjoyable read. I appreciate how he used the epilogue to wrap up as much as was possible.

Thanks to whoever recommended this one, I'm glad to have read it. I know I liked it because when it was over I realized I'll be doing a second read at some point in the future.

Glad you got to the end and glad you enjoyed it.

It gets better on second read, too.

Eriksen is currently working on a series built around Karsa. Believe the plan is it will be a trilogy. Should be pretty interesting...

Spoiler!
__________________
"You gotta love livin', cause dying is a pain in the ass."
---- Sinatra
Posts: 21,642
duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.
    Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2019, 01:03 PM   #692
lawrenceRaider lawrenceRaider is offline
Here We Go Again
 
lawrenceRaider's Avatar
 

Join Date: May 2002
Casino cash: $43544
Quote:
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho View Post
Glad you got to the end and glad you enjoyed it.

It gets better on second read, too.

Eriksen is currently working on a series built around Karsa. Believe the plan is it will be a trilogy. Should be pretty interesting...

Spoiler!
One can only hope.
__________________
Posts: 15,016
lawrenceRaider has enough rep power to blowy ou to bits.lawrenceRaider has enough rep power to blowy ou to bits.lawrenceRaider has enough rep power to blowy ou to bits.lawrenceRaider has enough rep power to blowy ou to bits.lawrenceRaider has enough rep power to blowy ou to bits.lawrenceRaider has enough rep power to blowy ou to bits.lawrenceRaider has enough rep power to blowy ou to bits.lawrenceRaider has enough rep power to blowy ou to bits.lawrenceRaider has enough rep power to blowy ou to bits.lawrenceRaider has enough rep power to blowy ou to bits.lawrenceRaider has enough rep power to blowy ou to bits.
    Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2019, 08:19 PM   #693
vailpass vailpass is offline
Psycho Bag Of Squanch
 
vailpass's Avatar
 

Join Date: Sep 2001
Casino cash: $9594244
Quote:
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho View Post
Glad you got to the end and glad you enjoyed it.

It gets better on second read, too.

Eriksen is currently working on a series built around Karsa. Believe the plan is it will be a trilogy. Should be pretty interesting...

Spoiler!
What's the meaning of Icarium saying "I remember" there at the end? Did seeing the blue pot shards wake him up to who he is and is he going to wreck things?
__________________
“Education is a weapon whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed.”
Joseph Stalin
Posts: 69,591
vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.
    Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2019, 09:36 PM   #694
duncan_idaho duncan_idaho is offline
M-I-Z-Z-O-U
 
duncan_idaho's Avatar
 

Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Kansas City
Casino cash: $-629692
Quote:
Originally Posted by vailpass View Post
What's the meaning of Icarium saying "I remember" there at the end? Did seeing the blue pot shards wake him up to who he is and is he going to wreck things?

That’s a great question. I’m not sure.

Is it just Icarium doing his usual “I’m close, I feel it this time”? Or real?

Suspect we might find out in the next series. A budding God of War is going to draw attention from other ascendants...
__________________
"You gotta love livin', cause dying is a pain in the ass."
---- Sinatra
Posts: 21,642
duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.duncan_idaho is obviously part of the inner Circle.
    Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2019, 11:46 AM   #695
Mennonite Mennonite is offline
Veteran
 

Join Date: Jun 2014
Casino cash: $10258572
I am looking for a couple of old Robert Sheckley short stories. One is "Spacmen in the Dark" originally published in 1950s adventure magazine called "Climax." The other is called " Man of the Hour. "


Both were collected in a book called "Science Fiction Digest, Vol 1 No 2, 1954" but the only copies available of it that I can find range in price from 50 to 125 dollars.

Any ideas where I can find these stories online for free or at least at a reasonable price?
Posts: 3,378
Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.
    Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2019, 09:55 PM   #696
vailpass vailpass is offline
Psycho Bag Of Squanch
 
vailpass's Avatar
 

Join Date: Sep 2001
Casino cash: $9594244
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mennonite View Post
I am looking for a couple of old Robert Sheckley short stories. One is "Spacmen in the Dark" originally published in 1950s adventure magazine called "Climax." The other is called " Man of the Hour. "


Both were collected in a book called "Science Fiction Digest, Vol 1 No 2, 1954" but the only copies available of it that I can find range in price from 50 to 125 dollars.

Any ideas where I can find these stories online for free or at least at a reasonable price?
Looked up his bibliography. Holy shit. What's the next level above prolific?

http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?818+None


(sorry didn't find prints of your stories)
__________________
“Education is a weapon whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed.”
Joseph Stalin
Posts: 69,591
vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.vailpass is obviously part of the inner Circle.
    Reply With Quote
Old 10-17-2019, 05:08 AM   #697
Mennonite Mennonite is offline
Veteran
 

Join Date: Jun 2014
Casino cash: $10258572
Yeah, the dude was a short story machine in the 50s. I've managed to read over 200 of them over the last couple of weeks.

After my disappointing experience with the Hugo nominated stories, I was pleasantly surprised by Sheckley's stuff. My previous encounter with his work was execrable DS9 novel The Laertian Gamble, but after hearing a few of his shows adapted for Mindwebs I decided to do a little digging.


He does not excel in a longer format, though a couple of his novels are interesting enough to check out. Immortality Inc. is pretty fun, and Dimension of Miracles is sort of a proto- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Sheckley does know how to write a short story though. You know how Rod Serling seemed to have an inimitable knack for producing memorable episodes in an anthology format? Well, Sheckley had a similar skill. He just gets how to write a short story.

Now, I'm not saying his stories are brilliant life changing tales or anything, but they are entertaining and imaginative. They have an ineffable quality like some of the short stories I read as a kid that have always stuck with me like The Most Dangerous Game or Leinigen vs the Ants.


If anyone is interested in entertaining 50s sci-fi written with tongue planted firmly in cheek, try some Robert Sheckley. I also think that his stories would make an excellent introduction to sci-fi for younger readers.
"The Store of the Worlds" is the best compilation of his stuff that I've found.



P.S. I'm working on a compilation of his short stories. It will consist of about 30 of my favorite stories. I'm not very tech savvy so it's going to take a while, but when it's done I'd be happy to share.

P.P.S. If anyone can find a copy of the two stories I mentioned in the previous post, I'd greatly appreciate it. I'd like to check out Spacemen in the Dark before I finish my compilation, but I don't suppose it really matters.
Posts: 3,378
Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.
    Reply With Quote
Old 10-17-2019, 04:36 PM   #698
Mennonite Mennonite is offline
Veteran
 

Join Date: Jun 2014
Casino cash: $10258572
Here's my Sheckley compilation:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/c6slhl...Final.rar/file



Epub and Mobi formats. I'm not tech savvy and this was my first go with this type of project but hopefully the files play ok.

Last edited by Mennonite; 10-24-2019 at 07:48 AM..
Posts: 3,378
Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.
    Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2019, 07:53 AM   #699
Mennonite Mennonite is offline
Veteran
 

Join Date: Jun 2014
Casino cash: $10258572
The Complete short stories of Theodore Sturgeon Vol. 1: The Ultimate Egoist


These volumes feature his stories in roughly chronological order, so this is his very earliest work. A good chunk of the stories are just crummy filler items for newspapers. Nothing great, but a few interesting items:

"Bianca's Hands" is a horror story that has an almost southern gothic feel to it. "Fluffy" and "Cellmate" are ok in a pulpy Weird Tales sort of way. "The Ultimate Egoist" has an interesting premise (for its time) but would have been better if it had been played for laughs or as a straight horror story.


The Complete short stories of Theodore Sturgeon Vol. 8: Bright Segment.

I think a lot of Sturgeon's later stories are a tad too long. The title story of this collection for example. This book contains a few of his more famous stories like the unfortunately titled Twink, as well as To Here and Easel, When You're Smiling, and Bulkhead. Not that crazy about any of them.

Oddly enough, I think the Riddle of Ragnarok is probably my favorite of the bunch. The first half is a retelling of the Death of Baldur, and the second half is about the Ravens of Odin solving the murder mystery. I liked it, but my childhood love of Thor comics may be clouding my judgment.


The Fredric Brown Megapack.

"The Answer" is my favorite of this collection of 33 stories. It's similar to a more famous Isaac Asimov story, but actually preceded it.

Other stories of note: Two "joke" stories "Earthmen Bearing Gifts" and "Puppet Show" are fun. "House of Mirrors" has a cool premise. "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" is a neat little "weird" tale.


I'm also still reading Hugo nominated short stories. Most still aren't that great but I did read a good one called "Tideline" by Elizabeth Bear. Ray Bradbury's "The Dragon" is another Hugo nominated story that I read recently; not bad. And speaking of dragons, I also read a Harlan Ellison story called "Delusions For a Dragon Slayer." I wasn't too crazy about it at first, but it keeps popping back into my mind so I may have to reevaluate my opinion of it.


Random shorts:


"Adam and No Eve" is another interesting short story by Alfred Bester.


"High Weir" by Samuel R. Delany didn't really grab me.


I also listened to a cool episode of Mindwebs called Rust based on a story from 1939. The saddest story about killer robots you will ever hear. Here's a link:

https://archive.org/details/MindWebs_201410


Not exactly sci-fi or fantasy, but I listened to a cool podcast episode called "20 Simple Steps To Ventriloquism" a few days ago and I thought it was pretty neat. The podcast was called "Pseudopod" and they specialize in horror short fiction. Here's a link:

http://pseudopod.org/2015/04/09/pseu...ventriloquism/

Last edited by Mennonite; 10-26-2019 at 09:06 AM..
Posts: 3,378
Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.
    Reply With Quote
Old 11-05-2019, 07:33 PM   #700
Mennonite Mennonite is offline
Veteran
 

Join Date: Jun 2014
Casino cash: $10258572
I gotta put these Hugo short stories down for a while. The selections have pretty much always sucked but the ones from the last few years are just too much for me to handle. The one that broke me:

https://www.apex-magazine.com/if-you...osaur-my-love/


Dear god.


I'm going to read some Lovecraft or Robert E. Howard stuff to cleanse the palette, I think.
Posts: 3,378
Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.
    Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2019, 12:55 PM   #701
Frosty Frosty is offline
Go Beavers!
 
Frosty's Avatar
 

Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Washington
Casino cash: $4308243
I took a break from The Expanse series to read The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One 1929-1964 after picking it up for Kindle for a couple of bucks. I'm on the second to last story ("Flowers For Algernon", which I last read in the 5th grade) and the stories have been pretty good. The only one I didn't care for and didn't finish, was "The Roads Must Roll" by Heinlein. There have been a few WTF? stories too, especially "The Country of the Kind," by Damon Knight but overall worth the read. I was worried that they would be really dated but that hasn't really been an issue.
Posts: 14,522
Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.
    Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2019, 02:05 PM   #702
Mennonite Mennonite is offline
Veteran
 

Join Date: Jun 2014
Casino cash: $10258572
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frosty View Post
I took a break from The Expanse series to read The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One 1929-1964 after picking it up for Kindle for a couple of bucks. I'm on the second to last story ("Flowers For Algernon", which I last read in the 5th grade) and the stories have been pretty good. The only one I didn't care for and didn't finish, was "The Roads Must Roll" by Heinlein. There have been a few WTF? stories too, especially "The Country of the Kind," by Damon Knight but overall worth the read. I was worried that they would be really dated but that hasn't really been an issue.

I think "Flowers for Algernon" worked better as a short story than as a full-length novel. I don't care for that Heinlein story either. "Country of the Kind" is a bit of an oddity. I'm not crazy about it when I read it, but I enjoy the episode of Mindwebs where the host reads it.




I've recently read a couple of other Damon Knight stories that were interesting as part of my Hugo readthru: "I See You" and " To Serve Man. " The latter was turned into the classic TZ episode of the same name.





I'm currently reading some H.P. Lovecraft inspired stories.

Sticks by Karl Edward Wagner.
A Colder War by Charles Stross
A Study in Emerald by Neil Gaiman
Notebook Found in a Deserted House by Robert Bloch
The Events at Poroth Farm by T.E.D Klein
The Men from Porlock by Laird Barron
Black Man with a Horn by T.E.D. Klein
The Black Stone by Robert E. Howard


Last edited by Mennonite; 11-08-2019 at 08:16 PM..
Posts: 3,378
Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.
    Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2019, 02:40 PM   #703
Frosty Frosty is offline
Go Beavers!
 
Frosty's Avatar
 

Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Washington
Casino cash: $4308243
I didn't even realize that "Flowers For Algernon" had different short story and novel versions. In my defense, though, I read the novel 40+ years ago. i was thinking that the story was progressing pretty quickly.

I think my favorites of this collection are "Mimsy Were the Borogoves" by Lewis Padgett and "Arena" by Frederic Brown followed by "First Contact" by Murray Leinster and "The Little Black Bag" by C. M. Kornbluth, though the ending of the latter was a bit abrupt.
Posts: 14,522
Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.Frosty 's phone was tapped by Scott Pioli.
    Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2019, 03:13 PM   #704
Mennonite Mennonite is offline
Veteran
 

Join Date: Jun 2014
Casino cash: $10258572
As I mentioned above, I recently read a collection of Fredric Brown's works. This is my favorite of his so far:

http://www.roma1.infn.it/~anzel/answer.html


It's only a page long.

And, coincidentally, I listened to a podcast of a Lewis Padget (aka Henry Kutner) weird tale called "The Graveyard Rats." It's been anthologized many times. He wrote a lot of Lovecraft inspired stuff.
Posts: 3,378
Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.Mennonite threw an interception on a screen pass.
    Reply With Quote
Old 11-11-2019, 04:59 AM   #705
MelGrif MelGrif is offline
Banned
 
MelGrif's Avatar
 

Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Seattle, USA
Casino cash: $10000400
What a great collection of fantasy books here! My husband likes this genre very much, so I'll share this discussion with him. Thanks a lot!
Posts: 44
MelGrif is a favorite in the douche of the year contest.MelGrif is a favorite in the douche of the year contest.MelGrif is a favorite in the douche of the year contest.
    Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump




All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:03 PM.


This is a test for a client's site.
Fort Worth Texas Process Servers
Covering Arlington, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie and surrounding communities.
Tarrant County, Texas and Johnson County, Texas.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.